Prediction of micro-milling forces with finite element method

This paper presents the prediction of micro-milling forces using cutting force coefficients evaluated from the finite element (FE) simulations. First an FE model of orthogonal micro-cutting with a round cutting edge is developed for Brass 260. The simulated cutting forces are compared against the experimental results obtained from turning tests. The cutting force coefficients are identified from a series of FE simulations at a range of cutting edge radii and chip loads. The identified cutting force coefficients are used to simulate micro-milling forces considering the tool trajectory, run-out and the dynamometer dynamics. The same process is also simulated with a slip-line field based model. FE and slip-line field based simulation results are compared against the experimentally measured turning and micro-milling forces. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.